MADISON- This week, the Wisconsin State Assembly once again rejected efforts to improve affordable health coverage for Wisconsin families by approving Governor Walker’s proposal to delay implementing changes to BadgerCare, including Walker’s provision that would cut about 70,000 individuals off their existing coverage.
This latest move to delay cuts instead of accepting Wisconsin’s share of federal funds will only contribute to the likelihood of insurance gaps for those in need of affordable health care.
“We call on Governor Walker and legislative leadership to reverse their decision and accept federal funds available for Wisconsin.
This would allow more people to have health insurance and ultimately cost the state less money,” said Tanya Atkinson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.
“For too many of our friends, families and neighbors, obtaining health care may become a luxury they cannot afford.
Hardworking Wisconsin citizens deserve the opportunity to access affordable health insurance.”
The proposal the Assembly passed this week also means 80,000 uninsured Wisconsinites will have to wait until April 1 to access new health insurance benefits Governor Walker promised they would have by January 1st.
“The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Governor Walker could stop the planned Badger- Care cuts by accepting Wisconsin’s share of federal dollars and investing it in our successful BadgerCare program.
He would be joining a bipartisan group of Governors who have already chosen to take the federal investment available for their own states.
It’s time to take the politics out of the debate around health care access and make sure all Wisconsin families can obtain affordable coverage,” concluded Atkinson.
From the beginning of his term, Governor Walker has drastically reduced individual’s access to affordable health care by cutting funding to health care providers, turning away federal resources to enhance health care coverage and refusing to implement the Affordable Care Act.
These actions by Governor Walker have compromised the well-being of individuals in need of affordable health care. Furthermore, his refusal to implement the ACA has driven up health insurance premiums in Wisconsin’s market place.
While Republican leaders continue to end affordable health coverage for thousands of Wisconsin families, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is working every day to provide essential reproductive health care to men and women regardless of their insurance status.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the state’s oldest and largest reproductive and sexual health care provider, serves over 70,000 patients annually across Wisconsin with essential, quality health care.
As a non-profit health care provider for seventy-eight years, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin remains committed to ensuring that all people have access to high quality, affordable health care.
